16 June 2016 Setley Pond
Pam led this
walk and writes: At the
start of the walk there was torrential rain so we decided to wait to see if it
cleared. Luckily it did which allowed us to set off in a southerly direction
past the pond where numerous House Martins were calling and skimming the water.
We then picked our way along a wet path down to the railway bridge leading to
Milking Pound Bottom and then up to Shirley Holms.
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| Chiffchaff |
Along
this route we saw fresh Chicken of the Woods high up on an oak, as well as an
active Honey Bees nest inside a hollow branch within an oak tree. There was
plenty of bird song especially Chiffchaff (left) which we had good views
of by the cottages at Jealous Lane. Although we walked along the heath much of
the route took us past farms with tree lined hay meadows filled with buttercups,
ideal for the swallows we later saw feeding on insects. The banks of the
shallow ditches running along the track had Black Medick growing and the
heathland had Heath Speedwell, Heath Bedstraw, Tormentil and Lousewort, with
the boggy areas full of fragrant Bog Myrtle.
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| Coral Necklace |
At
Shirley Holms car park we found an area of Coral Necklace (right) with its
strands floating in a puddle and a healthy stand of Heath Spotted Orchids. At
this point the sun came out so we decided not to walk through the dense Holly
woods but to enjoy the sun. We passed the old track leading to the Dominican
Priory, formerly Shirley Holms Manor. There were large patches of Common Cow-wheat
(below) a semiparasitic plant that grows on the roots of other plants.
We then circled the heath stopping to view Bullfinches and then newly fledged
Whitethroat which were fluttering about in the bracken, this was the highlight
of the walk. Finally we retraced our steps back to the railway bridge, this
being the only way to cross the track on this route.
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| Common Cow-wheat |
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